Have the children create life-sized stuffed figures of themselves. Each child has a partner trace around their body on white bulletin board paper. Then they cut out two of the shapes, draw on their faces, clothes etc.  Staple the front and back together, and stuff them with newspaper or other paper scraps. Each child is then sitting in his/her desk on the night of open house.

Variation:  Have the kids decorate a paper plate to look like themselves. I then attach a pencil or Popsicle stick to the back of the paper plate. I send home a letter to parents asking to send in one of their child's t shirts for a project. I don’t tell them what it is for. On Back to school night i put all of the paper plate faces on the students chair and put their shirt they brought it over the chair. The parents come in and have to find which paper plate is their son/.daughter. The parents love it and the kids can’t wait for their parents to come home and tell them if they knew which paper plate face was theirs!

Variation:  Have the children draw a picture of who they think might be coming to Open House. Usually they draw one or both parents. I put their names on the back and then hang the pictures on the chalkboard with a sign that says "Can You Find Yourself?" When the parents arrive I explain the activity and ask them to see if they can find themselves.

Guess Who?  Have students fill out a Guess Who sheet to display in the hallway or on a bulletin board.  Have a picture underneath for checking.  Then the day of Open House parents can find their child by reading the clues provided.

Open House Activities/Ideas

Estimation-I also have a small jar filled with Hershey kisses (or other candy) and ask parents to estimate how many kisses are in the jar. They write their name, child's name and estimate on a piece of paper. The next day the kids and I count the kisses and decide whose estimate is the closest. The "winner" gets to take the kisses home in a baggie, but first that child gives everyone in the class 2 Hershey's kisses.

My Files

Please Do Not post my documents on sites such as the Second Grade Teachers Club or Proteacher.  Please direct them to my site.  If someone likes that idea they may find other things on my site useful.  Thank you. :)

                          Estimation Guesses                           

    Open House Scavenger Hunt

              Thanks for Popping In Labels          

Guess Who Activity

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